Information input/output apparatus, information input/output control method, and computer product

ABSTRACT

Comprises a panel, and a coordinate control section that detects a point touched on the panel and generates a signal according to the detected point. The coordinate control section generates a coordinate signal that shows coordinates of a touched point, when one point touch on the panel has been detected. When simultaneous touches of two or more points on the panel have been detected, the coordinate control section generates a control signal that shows a control set in advance corresponding to the number of touched points.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an information input/outputapparatus, an information input/output control method, acomputer-readable recording medium recorded with a program for making acomputer execute an information input/output control method, and aprogram for making the computer execute an information input/outputcontrol method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Nowadays, touch-panel type information input/output apparatusesthat are used to operate a computer by touching a touch panel withfingers or an exclusive pen have been widely utilized. Further, inrecent years, schools and companies have come to employ a method ofproceeding with lectures or giving explanations at meetings bydisplaying documents and data prepared in advance, or internet screensor video reproduction screens, on a large monitor.

[0003] When a touch panel and a monitor are integrated together in theabove information input/output apparatus, a person who makespresentation can operate the computer, change screens or processscreens, by indicating the screens displayed on the monitor. To operatethe computer having a large monitor based on the touch-panel system hasadvantages in that the attendants or listeners can easily understand theongoing explanation linked with the contents of the screen currentlydisplayed on the monitor. Further, the attendants can easily understandthe progress of the explanation linked with smooth changes in theexplained contents of the screen displayed on the monitor.

[0004] Some computer software generally used have a tool bar displayfunction. A tool bar is advantageous in that it is easy to select aprocessing item or a function to be executed by the computer from amongitems currently displayed on the monitor. On the other hand, occupying apart of the screen for a display has a drawback in that this limits thespace that can be used for the screen display.

[0005] As conventional techniques that solve the above drawback, thereare inventions that are disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open (JP-A) No. 10-91384 and JP-A No. 11-119965, for example.According to the invention disclosed in JP-A No. 10-91384, a tool baritself has buttons that are displayed in scroll to select displayed onthe monitor. To operate the computer having a large monitor based on thetouch-panel system has advantages in that the attendants or listenerscan easily understand the ongoing explanation linked with the contentsof the screen currently displayed on the monitor. Further, theattendants can easily understand the progress of the explanation linkedwith smooth changes in the explained contents of the screen displayed onthe monitor.

[0006] Some computer software generally used have a tool bar displayfunction. A tool bar is advantageous in that it is easy to select aprocessing item or a function to be executed by the computer from amongitems currently displayed on the monitor. On the other hand, occupying apart of the screen for a display has a drawback in that this limits thespace that can be used for the screen display.

[0007] As conventional techniques that solve the above drawback, thereare inventions that are disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open (JP-A) No. 10-91384 and JP-A No. 11-119965, for example.According to the invention disclosed in JP-A No. 10-91384, a tool baritself has buttons that are displayed in scroll to select a function. Itis possible to display all buttons in one space in which one tool bar isdisplayed.

[0008] Further, according to the invention disclosed in JP-A No.10-91384, a tool bar has a button that changes a display position of thetool bar to a corner of the window. It is possible to move the tool bardisplayed at an upper portion of the screen of an application at thebeginning, to a corner of the window. With this arrangement, it ispossible to prevent the screen from becoming narrow due to the displayof the tool bar.

[0009] Further, according to the invention disclosed in JP-A No.11-119965, a tool bar is displayed in a three-dimensional shape, andbuttons that are used to select functions are provided on each side ofthe three-dimensional tool bar. It is possible to select many functionbuttons around the tool bar displayed in three dimensions, by using onetool bar display area. According to the invention disclosed in JP-A No.11-119965, the tool bar is displayed at an upper portion of the screenof an application.

[0010] In general, a screen having large sizes is used to makepresentation to a large number of attendants at lectures or meetings(this kind of screen will hereinafter be called a large screen). When alarge screen is used, a person who makes presentation cannot indicatethe whole parts of the screen in standing at a constant position.Therefore, this person moves positions to indicate the contentsdisplayed on the large screen to match the explanation.

[0011] However, when the tool bar is displayed at a predeterminedposition such as an upper portion of the screen or at a corner of thewindow on the large screen following the conventional technique, thespeaker must move to a position of the tool each time when the tool baris used. When the speaker moves frequently, this move gives a large loadto the speaker, and this also gives an uncomfortable impression to theattendants as they cannot concentrate on the explanation.

[0012] Further, a large screen generally has large sizes in a verticaldirection, and the upper end portion of the screen maybe set higher thanthe height of the speaker. Therefore, when the tool bar is displayed ata predetermined position following the conventional method, there is arisk that the speaker cannot reach the tool bar and finds it difficultto handle the tool bar.

[0013] The conventional technique is based on the assumption that thetool bar is displayed. However, in general, it is possible to display orerase the tool bar. The speaker touches a set position on the screen toswitch between the display and the erasing of the tool bar, according tothe touch panel input. Therefore, when a large screen is used, thespeaker must move from the current position to this set position toswitch between the display and the erasing of the tool bar.

[0014] As one idea of solving the above inconveniences, it may beconsidered a method of allocating a computer processing function toeither a click or double-click input operation in only the touch panelsystem. Based on this, a specific function maybe started from anoptional position. However, a relationship between a click, a doubleclick, or a right click and a program is common to all OS (operatingsystem). To allocate an operation that is common to the mouse operationto other processing in only the touch panel affects other programs.Therefore, this method is not desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It is a first object of the present invention to provide aninformation input/output apparatus and an information input/outputcontrol method of enabling a speaker at an optional position to make acomputer start processing executed by a computer such as a tool bardisplay or erasing operation. It is also an object of the invention toprovide a computer-readable recording medium recorded with a program formaking the computer execute an information input/output control method,and a program for making the computer execute an informationinput/output control method.

[0016] It is a second object of the present invention to provide aninformation input/output apparatus and an information input/outputcontrol method of not affecting other programs, and to provide acomputer-readable recording medium recorded with a program for makingthe computer execute an information input/output control method, and aprogram for making the computer execute an information input/outputcontrol method.

[0017] It is a third object of the present invention to provide aninformation input/output apparatus and an information input/outputcontrol method of preventing the occurrence of inconveniences in alarge-screen touch panel and further facilitating the operation of thelarge-screen touch panel, and to provide a computer-readable recordingmedium recorded with a program for making the computer execute aninformation input/output control method, and a program for making thecomputer execute an information input/output control method.

[0018] In order to achieve the above objects, according to a firstaspect of the present invention, there is provided an informationinput/output apparatus comprising, a touch panel, a touch pointdetecting unit which detects a point touched on the touch panel, and asignal generating unit which generates a signal according to a pointdetected by the touch point detecting unit. When the touch pointdetecting unit has detected that one point has been touched on the touchpanel within a predetermined period of time, the signal generating unitgenerates a coordinate signal that shows coordinates of the touchedpoint. When the touch point detecting unit has detected that two or morepoints have been touched on the touch panel within a predeterminedperiod of time, the signal generating unit generates a control signalthat shows a control according to a computer set in advancecorresponding to the number of touched points.

[0019] According to the first aspect of the invention, when two or morepoints have been touched within a predetermined period of time, it ispossible to generate a control signal that shows a control set inadvance corresponding to the number of touched points. Therefore, theoperation of touching two or more points within a predetermined periodof time can be set as the operation that generates a control signaleigen to a touch-system coordinate input.

[0020] Further, according to a second aspect of the invention, there isprovided an information input/output control method comprising, a touchpoint detecting step of detecting a point touched on a touch panel, anda signal generating step of generating a coordinate signal that showscoordinates of a touched point when it has been detected at the touchpoint detecting step of one point being touched on the touch panelwithin a predetermined period of time, and of generating a controlsignal that shows a control set in advance corresponding to a number oftouched points when it has been detected at the touch point detectingstep that two or more points have been touched on the touch panel withina predetermined period of time.

[0021] According to the second aspect of the invention, when two or morepoints have been touched within a predetermined period of time, it ispossible to generate a control signal that shows a control set inadvance corresponding to the number of touched points. Therefore, theoperation of touching two or more points within a predetermined periodof time can be set as the operation that generates a control signaleigen to a touch-system coordinate input.

[0022] Further, according to a third aspect of the invention, there isprovided a computer-readable recording medium that is recorded with aprogram for making a computer execute an information input/outputcontrol method. The recording medium is recorded with an informationinput/output control method comprising, a touch point detecting step ofdetecting a point touched on a predetermined area set in advance, and asignal generating step of generating a coordinate signal that showscoordinates of a touched point when it has been detected at the touchpoint detecting step of one point being touched on the predeterminedarea within a predetermined period of time, and of generating a controlsignal showing a control according to a computer set in advancecorresponding to a number of touched points when it has been detected atthe touch point detecting step that two or more points have been touchedon the predetermined area within a predetermined period of time.

[0023] According to the third aspect of the invention, when two or morepoints have been touched within a predetermined period of time, it ispossible to make the computer generate a control signal that shows acontrol set in advance corresponding to the number of touched points.Therefore, the operation of touching two or more points within apredetermined period of time can be set as the operation that generatesa control signal eigen to a touch-system coordinate input.

[0024] Further, according to a fourth aspect of the invention, there isprovided a program for making a computer execute an informationinput/output control method comprising, a touch point detecting step ofdetecting a point touched on a touch panel, and a signal generating stepof generating a coordinate signal that shows coordinates of a touchedpoint when it has been detected at the touch point detecting step of onepoint being touched on the touch panel within a predetermined period oftime, and of generating a control signal showing a control according toa computer set in advance corresponding to a number of touched pointswhen it has been detected at the touch point detecting step that two ormore points have been touched on the touch panel within a predeterminedperiod of time.

[0025] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when two or morepoints have been touched within a predetermined period of time, it ispossible to make the computer generate a control signal that shows acontrol set in advance corresponding to the number of touched points.Therefore, the operation of touching two or more points within apredetermined period of time can be set as the operation that generatesa control signal eigen to a touch-system coordinate input.

[0026] Other objects and features of this invention will becomeunderstood from the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows the appearance of an informationinput/output apparatus that is common to embodiments of the presentinvention;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a diagram that explains a touch panel portion of thestructure shown in FIG. 1;

[0029]FIG. 3 is a diagram that explains a procedure of obtaining touchcandidate points according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0030]FIG. 4 is a diagram that explains a basic structure of theinformation input/output apparatus according to the first embodiment;

[0031]FIG. 5 is another diagram that explains a basic structure of theinformation input/output apparatus according to the first embodiment;

[0032]FIG. 6 is still another diagram that explains a basic structure ofthe information input/output apparatus according to the firstembodiment;

[0033]FIG. 7 is still another diagram that explains a basic structure ofthe information input/output apparatus according to the firstembodiment;

[0034]FIG. 8 is still another diagram that explains a basic structure ofthe information input/output apparatus according to the firstembodiment;

[0035]FIG. 9 is still another diagram that explains a basic structure ofthe information input/output apparatus according to the firstembodiment;

[0036]FIG. 10 is a diagram that explains an operation procedure of theinformation input/output apparatus according to the first embodiment;

[0037]FIGS. 11A to 11C are diagrams that explain a procedure of editinga tool bar according to the first embodiment;

[0038]FIG. 12 is a flowchart that explains a method of controlling aninput of coordinates according to the first embodiment;

[0039]FIG. 13 is a flowchart that explains a method of controlling adisplay of a tool bar according to the first embodiment;

[0040]FIG. 14 is a diagram that explains another structure example ofthe information input/output apparatus according to the firstembodiment;

[0041]FIGS. 15A to 15C are other diagrams that explain a procedure ofobtaining touch candidate points according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0042]FIGS. 16A to 16C are diagrams that explain still another structureexample of the information input/output apparatus according to the firstembodiment. These diagrams show function setting screens that set arelationship between a number of touch points and a function allocatedto the touch points;

[0043]FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams that explain a procedure of editinga tool bar according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0044]FIGS. 18A to 18F are diagrams that explain a procedure of changinga tool bar display status according to the third embodiment;

[0045]FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams that explain a detailed method ofcalculating a tool bar drugging direction according to the thirdembodiment;

[0046]FIGS. 20A to 20D are diagrams that explain an erasing of adisplayed tool bar by carrying out simultaneous touches in a status thata tool bar is displayed according to the third embodiment;

[0047]FIG. 21 is a flowchart that explains an information input/outputcontrol method according to the third embodiment;

[0048]FIG. 22 is a diagram that explains a structure of a coordinateinput device that can be applied to the A information input/outputapparatus of the present invention;

[0049]FIG. 23 is another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0050]FIG. 24 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0051]FIG. 25 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0052]FIG. 26 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0053]FIG. 27 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0054]FIG. 28 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0055]FIG. 29 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0056]FIG. 30 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 31 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0058]FIG. 32 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention;

[0059]FIG. 33 is still another diagram that explains a structure of acoordinate input device that can be applied to the informationinput/output apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

[0060] Preferred embodiments of an information input/output apparatus,an information input/output control method, a computer-readablerecording medium that is recorded with a program for making a computerexecute an information input/output control method, and a program formaking the computer execute an information input/output control methodaccording to the present invention will be explained in detail below asa first to third embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

[0061] (First Embodiment)

[0062] A first embodiment explains a structure of an example of aninformation input/output apparatus according to the present invention.The information input/output apparatus according to the first embodimentis structured as what is called an electronic blackboard system thatcomprises a relatively large display, and that can display data recordedon a recording medium such as a computer hard disk, a floppy disk, a CD(compact disk), or a DVD (digital versatile disk) onto this display, andedit the displayed information. The information input/output apparatusaccording to the first embodiment can input information based on a touchpanel system. Further, the information input/output apparatus explainedin the first embodiment includes structures that are common to otherembodiments to be described later.

[0063]FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows the appearance of the informationinput/output apparatus according to the first embodiment. Theinformation input/output apparatus shown in this diagram is constructedof a display section 101, and a computer that controls the displaysection 101. In the first embodiment, a general-purpose personalcomputer 102 is used for the computer. The information input/outputapparatus has a program recorded with an information input/outputcontrol method to be described later, and this program is executed bythe personal computer 102.

[0064] The display section 101 includes a display screen 104, a frameunit 103 that supports the display screen 104, and a supporting stand105 that supports the display screen 104 and the frame unit 103. Thedisplay screen 104 is fitted with a coordinate input device to bedescribed later. The display screen 104 and the coordinate input deviceconstitute a touch panel having the display screen 104 and a panel thatprescribes an area in which coordinates are input integrated together.

[0065] The personal computer 102 includes a coordinate input section 106that receives coordinate data detected by a touch panel structured bythe display screen 104 and the coordinate input device (hereinafter tobe simply referred to as a touch panel), a coordinate control section107 that calculates coordinates and generates a coordinate signal basedon coordinate data received by the coordinate input section 106, orgenerates a control signal according to a number of points input to thetouch panel shown by the coordinate data, a screen control section 108that controls the display screen 104 based on the coordinate signal orthe control signal generated by the screen control section 107, and animage memory 109 in which image data is expanded in the format of R, Gand B. The image data expanded in the image memory 109 is output to thedisplay screen 104 by a video output section not shown.

[0066] In the present embodiment, an operator's operation of inputting apoint (coordinates) on the display screen 104 that constitutes the touchpanel by touching this screen with a finger or a pen will be called a“touch”. An input point will be called a “touch point”. Touching aplurality of points on the screen within a predetermined period of timewill hereinafter be called “simultaneous touches”, and a plurality ofpoints that have been touched simultaneously will be called“simultaneous touch points”. The information input/output apparatusaccording to the first embodiment detects touch points at about every 20ms. Therefore, in the first embodiment, when a plurality of points havebeen touched within one detection time of 20 ms, it s possible to regardthese touches as simultaneous touches. However, in the first embodiment,to simplify the explanation, simultaneous touch points will be assumedalways as two points.

[0067] The coordinate input section 106 is in the structure using a USB(universal serial bus) or RS232C (recommended standard 232-C), andoutputs touch detection data from the touch panel to the coordinatecontrol section 107. The coordinate control section 107 uses thedetection data to calculate coordinates, and therefore, the detectiondata will be described as coordinate data.

[0068] The coordinate control section 107 decides whether simultaneoustouches have been carried out or not, based on the input coordinatedata. When coordinate data of only one coordinate point has been inputwithin a predetermined period of time, the coordinate control section107 decides that only one point has been touched on the touch panel. Thecoordinate control section 107 obtains the coordinates of this touchedone point by calculation, and outputs the obtained coordinates to thescreen control section 108 as a coordinate signal.

[0069] The touch panel and the calculation carried out to obtaincoordinates that are common to the embodiments of the present inventionwill be explained next. FIG. 2 is a diagram that schematically shows atouch panel 200 constructed of the coordinate input device and thedisplay screen 104. The touch panel 200 is constructed of the displayscreen 104 that also functions as a panel, an optical reflection film201 provided in three directions of the display screen 104, and opticalunits 202 a and 202 b. Of the touch panel components, the opticalreflection film 201 and the optical units 202 a and 202 b constitute thecoordinate input device.

[0070] The optical units 202 a and 202 b have similar structures. Eachoptical unit includes a light source (not shown) that irradiatesfan-shaped laser beams forming a plane parallel with the display screen104 on the whole area of the display screen 104, and a light receivingsection (not shown) using a CCD (charge-coupled device) that receivesreflection beams of the irradiated laser beams. The optical reflectionfilm 201 is a retroreflection film that reflects a reflection beam topass through the optical axis 1 again, when the beam passing through theoptical axis 1 is reflected.

[0071] When a point p on the display screen 104 has been touched, alaser beam irradiated from the light source is interfered by a finger ora pen that has touched the point p. As a result, of the laser beam thatpasses through the touch point p, only the reflection beam that has beenreflected from the optical reflection film 201 is not received by thelight receiving section. Therefore, it is possible to understand theoptical axis of the beam that passes through the touch point from thelight receiving status of the light receiving element. Further, based onthe provision of the two optical units 202 a and 202 b, it is possibleto specify two optical axes that pass through the touch point p.

[0072] The coordinate control section 107 calculates coordinates (x, y)of the touch point p using the following expressions, based on angles θLand θL between a line parallel with a side s on which the optical units202 a and 202 b are fitted in the touch panel and specified opticalaxes, and a distance W between the optical units 202 a and 202 b (forexample, a distance between the light source of the optical unit 202 aand the light source of the optical unit 202 b) The calculatedcoordinates (x, y) are output to the screen control section 108.

x=W·tan θR÷(tan θL+tan θR)  (1)

y=W·tan θL·tan θR÷(tan θL+tan θR)  (2)

[0073] The coordinates (x, y) are set according to the resolution of thedisplay screen 104 on the display screen 104. On the display screen 104of the first embodiment, pixels of 1024 dots are disposed in the x-axisdirection, and pixels of 708 dots are disposed in the y-axis direction.The x coordinate is set, for example, by using a light source positionof the optical unit 202 a as an origin, setting a maximum value to beset as the x coordinate to a pixel of the 1024-th dot position, anduniformly allocating a distance between the origin and the maximumvalue. Similarly, the y coordinate is set by setting a maximum value ofthe y coordinate to a pixel of the 708-th dot position, and uniformlyallocating a distance between the origin and the maximum value.

[0074] Functions of click and double click are allocated in advance tospecific coordinates of the display screen 104 of the touch panel ontowhich an input is carried out. The screen control section 108 decideswhether obtained coordinates correspond to the coordinates on thedisplay screen 104 to which these functions have been allocated or not.When the obtained coordinates correspond to the coordinates to which thefunctions have been allocated, the screen control section 108 executesthe operation of click or double click.

[0075] When the screen control section 108 has decided that thecoordinates input from the coordinate control section 107 do notcorrespond to the coordinates on the display screen 104 to which thesefunctions have been allocated, the screen control section 108 writes apoint into the coordinates obtained for the image data of the imagememory, and outputs a result to the display screen 104. As a result,when coordinates not allocated with the functions are input continuouslyto the screen control section 108 from the coordinate control section107, a line is drawn on the display screen 104.

[0076] When the coordinate control section 107 has decided that twopoints have been touched simultaneously on the touch panel, that is,when coordinate data of two coordinate points have been input within apredetermined period of time, the coordinate control section 107generates a control signal showing a computer control that has been setin advance corresponding to a number of touched points (two points inthe first embodiment), and outputs this control signal to the screencontrol section 108. In the first embodiment, this control signal is acontrol signal that instructs the screen control section 108 to displaya tool bar. The screen control section 108 to which the control signalhas been input starts a program for displaying the tool bar, and makingthe tool bar displayed on the display screen 104.

[0077] According to the first embodiment, in the informationinput/output apparatus that is operated using the touch panel, it ispossible to carry out simultaneous touches as the operation ofgenerating a control signal similar to click and double click atoptional points on the display screen 104. Therefore, by allocating thecontrol signal for the display of the tool bar to simultaneous touches,it becomes possible to display the tool bar without affecting otherprograms. The display of the tool bar makes it possible to directlyexecute the function shown in the tool bar on the displayed screen.Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is not necessary toonce close the screen on display and operate to make the tool bardisplayed from other screen. As a result, it is possible to improve theoperation the information input/output apparatus.

[0078] Further, the information input/output apparatus of the firstembodiment carries out the following processing in order to make thetool bar displayed at a position relatively close to the simultaneouslytouched positions. That is, when simultaneous touches have beendetected, the coordinate control section 107 obtains touch candidatepoints that have a possibility of being touched. The control signal is asignal that is displayed in an area encircled by straight lines thatpass through the touch candidate points on the display screen 104.

[0079]FIG. 3 is a diagram that explains a procedure of obtaining touchcandidate points. When simultaneous touches have been carried out, thecoordinate control section 107 cannot decide which two points have beensimultaneously touched among a point pa (x1, y1), a point pb (x2, y2), apoint pc (x3, y3), and a point pd (x4, y4), from the data detected bythe optical unit 202 a (FIG. 1) and the optical unit 202 b (FIG. 1). Inthis instance, the coordinate control section 107 calculates thecoordinates of all the points of the point pa (x1, y1), the point pb(x2, y2), the point pc (x3, y3), and the point pd (x4, y4), as touchcandidate points that have a possibility of being simultaneouslytouches. In the first embodiment, the above equations (1) and (2) arealso used to calculate the touch candidate points.

[0080] The introduction of the above equations (1) and (2) will beexplained in further detail. In order to explain the coordinatedetection principle of the coordinate input device used in the presentembodiment, a basic structure of the information input/output apparatusshown in FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 9.FIG. 4 shows an optical information input/output apparatus that projectsfan-shaped luminous flux in a plane shape parallel with the displayscreen 104. This type of coordinate input device is also called anoptical thin-film type coordinate input device (hereinafter to be simplyreferred to as a coordinate input device). The information input/outputapparatus has a coordinate input area 403 as a coordinate input planethat is formed by a luminous flux film projected in a fan shape. Anindicating unit 404 that functions as a light-interfering unit like anoperator's finger tip, a pen, or an indication bar, is inserted into thecoordinate input area 403, thereby to interfere the luminous flux withinthe coordinate input area 403. With this arrangement, it is madepossible to detect an indication position and input characters or thelike based on a position of an image formed by the light receivingelement like the CCD (charge-couple device).

[0081] The coordinate input area 403 as an internal space of acoordinate input member 402 having a square casing structure issuperimposed with the display screen 104 that electronically displays animage in a two-dimensional shape forming a plane (or substantially aplane). Consider an instance that the indicating unit 404 that functionsas a light-interfering unit like an operator's finger tip, a pen, or anindication bar that is optically opaque material has touched thiscoordinate input area 403. The coordinate input device has an object ofdetecting the coordinates of this indicating unit 404.

[0082] Light emitting/receiving units 405 are mounted on both upper ends(or both lower ends) of the coordinate input area 403. The optical units202 a and 202 b correspond to the light emitting/receiving units 405 inthe above information input/output apparatus. The lightemitting/receiving units 405 irradiate fluxes of optical beams (probebeams) of L1, L2, L3, . . . , and Ln toward the coordinate input area403. In actual practice, these optical beam fluxes are plane fan-shapedoptical waves (a luminous flux film) that proceed along a plane parallelwith the coordinate input plane that spreads from a point light source406.

[0083] A retroreflection member (a retroreflection unit whichcorresponds to the optical reflection film 201 of the informationinput/output apparatus) 407 is mounted on the peripheral portion of thecoordinate input area 403 by facing the retroreflection plane toward thecenter of the coordinate input area 403. The retroreflection member 407is a member that has characteristic of reflecting the incident beamstoward the same direction regardless of a light-incident angle. Forexample, consider one probe beam 408 among the plane fan-shaped opticalwaves that are emitted from the light emitting/receiving unit 405. Thisprobe beam 408 is reflected by the retroreflection member 407, andproceeds to return to the light emitting/receiving unit 405 as aretroreflection beam 409 through the same optical path again. The lightemitting/receiving unit 405 is installed with a light emitting/receivingunit to be described later. It is possible to decide whether aretroreflection beam of each of the probe beams L1 to Ln has returned tothe light emitting/receiving unit or not.

[0084] Consider that an operator has touched a position P with a finger(the indicating unit 404). In this instance, a probe beam 410 isinterfered by the finger at the position P, and does not reach theretroreflection member 407. Therefore, the retroreflection beam of theprobe beam 410 does not reach the light emitting/receiving unit 405. Itis detected that the retroreflection beam corresponding to the probebeam 410 has not been received. Based on this, it is possible to detectthat the indicating unit 404 has been inserted into an extension line (astraight line L) of the probe beam 410.

[0085] Similarly, a probe beam 411 is irradiated from the lightemitting/receiving unit 405 that is installed at the right upper sideshown in FIG. 4. It is detected that the retroreflection beamcorresponding to the probe beam 411 has not been received. Based onthis, it is possible to detect that the indicating unit 404 has beeninserted into an extension line (a straight line R) of the probe beam411. When it is possible to obtain the straight line L and the straightline R, it is possible to obtain the coordinates of the point into whichthe indicating unit 404 has been inserted, by calculating thecoordinates of the intersection P based on the principle oftrigonometrical measurement.

[0086] A structure of the light emitting/receiving unit 405 and amechanism of detecting which probe beam has been interfered among theprobe beams L1 to Ln will be explained next. FIG. 5 is a diagram thatshows an outline structure of the inside of the light emitting/receivingunit 405. This is the light emitting/receiving unit 405 installed on thecoordinate input plane of FIG. 4 viewed from a direction perpendicularto the coordinate input area 403. To simplify the explanation, atwo-dimensional plane parallel with the coordinate input area 403 willbe explained.

[0087] The light emitting/receiving unit 405 is broadly constructed of apoint light source 406, a condenser lens 502, and a light receivingelement 503 that functions as a CCD and a light receiving unit. Thepoint light source 406 irradiates fan-shaped beams to a directionopposite to the light receiving element 503 as viewed from a lightsource (to be described later) as a light emitting unit. The fan-shapedbeams irradiated from the point light source 406 are considered as acollection of probe beams that proceed to directions of arrow marks 504and 505 and other directions.

[0088] A probe beam that proceeds to the direction of the arrow mark 504is reflected by the retroreflection member 407 to a direction of anarrow mark 506, passes through the condenser lens 502, and reaches aposition 507 on the light receiving element 503. Further, a probe beamthat proceeds to the direction of the arrow mark 505 is reflected by theretroreflection member 407 to a direction of an arrow mark 508, passesthrough the condenser lens 502, and reaches a position 509 on the lightreceiving element 503. As explained above, the beams that are emittedfrom the point light source 406, reflected by the retroreflection member407, and return through the same paths reach mutually differentpositions on the light receiving element 503 based on the operation ofthe condenser lens 502. Therefore, when a certain probe beam isinterfered by inserting the indicating unit 404 into a certain positionon the coordinate input area 403, the beam does not reach the point onthe light receiving element 503 corresponding to this probe beam.Therefore, it is possible to know which probe beam has been interfered,by checking the light intensity distribution on the light receivingelement 503.

[0089]FIG. 6 is a diagram that explains the above operation in furtherdetail. In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the light receiving element 503 isinstalled on a focal plane (a focal distance f) of the condenser lens502. A beam emitted from the point light source 406 to the right shownin FIG. 6 is reflected by the retroreflection member 407, and returnsthrough the same path. Therefore, this beam is condensed to the positionof the point light source 406 again. The center of the condenser lens502 is set to coincide with the position of the point light source. Asthe retroreflection beam that has returned from the retroreflectionmember 407 passes through the center of the condenser lens 502, thisbeam proceeds through a symmetrical path to the backside of the lens (atthe light receiving element side).

[0090] The light intensity distribution on the light receiving element503 will be considered. When the indicating unit 404 has not beeninserted, the light intensity distribution on the light receivingelement 503 is substantially constant. However, when the indicating unit404 that interferes a beam has been inserted into a position P as shownin FIG. 6, a probe beam that passes through this position is interfered,and an area of weak light intensity is generated at a position Dn on thelight receiving element 503. A dip appears in the shape of the lightintensity distribution of the beam from the light receiving element 503.The position Dn at which this dip appears corresponds to anemission/incidence angle θn of the interfered probe beam. Therefore, itis possible to know θn by detecting Dn. In other words, it is possibleto express θn as a function of Dn as follows.

θn=arctan(Dn/f)  (3)

[0091] For the light emitting/receiving unit 405 at the left upper sideshown in FIG. 4, θn is substituted by θnL, and Dn is substituted by DnL.

[0092] Further, an angleθL that is formed between the indicating unit404 and the coordinate input area 403 is obtained as follows as afunction of DnL obtained from the equation (3), from a conversioncoefficient g of a geometrical relative positional relationship betweenthe light emitting/receiving unit 405 and the coordinate input area 403as shown in FIG. 7.

θL=g(θnL)  (4)

[0093] where, θnL=arctan (DnL/f).

[0094] Similarly, for the light emitting/receiving unit 405 at the rightupper side shown in FIG. 4, the symbol L is substituted by the symbol Rin the above equations (3) and (4). Then, the following relationship isobtained from a conversion coefficient h of a geometrical relativepositional relationship between the light emitting/receiving unit 405 atthe right side and the coordinate input area 403.

θR=h(θnR)  (5)

[0095] where, θnR=arctan (DnR/f).

[0096] Assume that the fitting distance of the light emitting/receivingunit 405 on the coordinate input area 403 is w as shown in FIG. 7, andthe origin coordinates are set as shown in FIG. 7. Then, thetwo-dimensional coordinates (x, y) of the point P indicated by theindicating unit 404 on the coordinate input area 403 are expressed bythe equations (1) and (2). As x and y can be expressed as functions ofDnL and DnR, it is possible to detect the two-dimensional coordinates ofthe point P indicated by the indicating unit 404, by detecting thepositions DnL and DnR at a dark point on the light receiving element 503on the left and right light emitting/receiving units 405, and byconsidering a geometrical disposition of the light emitting/receivingunits 405.

[0097] Next, an example of installing the optical system on thecoordinate input area 403, for example, the surface of the display, willbe explained. FIG. 8 shows an example installation of one of the leftand right light emitting/receiving units 405 explained in FIG. 4 andFIG. on the display surface of the information input/output apparatus.

[0098] In FIG. 8, a reference number 800 denotes a cross section of adisplay surface as viewed in a direction facing a positive directionfrom a negative position of the y axis shown in FIG. 5. In other words,FIG. 8 shows an x-z direction as a main. Portions encircled by two-dotchain lines show structures of the same section viewed from separatedirections (an x-y direction, and a y-z direction). The display surface800 shown in FIG. 8 has a structure using a plasma display panel (PDP).

[0099] Next, the light emitting unit among the light emitting/receivingunits 405 will be explained. For a light source 801 as the lightemitting unit, a light source like an LD (laser diode) that candiaphragm a spot to a certain extent is used.

[0100] A beam emitted in perpendicular to the display surface 800 fromthe light source 801 is collimated to only the x direction by thecondenser lens 802. This collimated beam is returned later by a halfmirror 803, and is distributed as a beam parallel with a directionperpendicular to the display surface 800. After passing through thecondenser lens 802, the beam is condensed to the y direction in thedrawing with two condenser lenses 804 and 805 of which curvaturedistribution is orthogonal with that of the condenser lens 802.

[0101] Based on the operation of these condenser lenses (lenses 801, 804and 805), a linearly condensed area is formed at the back side of thecondenser lens 805. A slit 806 that is narrow in the y direction andslender in the x direction is inserted there. In other words, a lineartwo-dimensional light source 406 a is formed at the slit position. Thelight emitted from the two-dimensional light source 406 a is reflectedby the half mirror 803, and proceeds along the display surface 800 whilespreading in a fan shape with the two-dimensional light source 406 a asa center in a direction parallel with the display surface 800, withoutspreading in a direction perpendicular to the display surface 800.

[0102] The proceeded beam is reflected by the retroreflection member 407that is installed on the peripheral end of the display, and returns to adirection (an arrow mark C) of the half mirror 803 through the samepath. The beam that has passed through the half mirror 803 proceeds inparallel with the display surface 800, passes through the condenser lens502, and is incident to the light receiving element 503.

[0103] In this instance, the two-dimensional light source 406 a and thecondenser lens 502 are disposed at a distance of D from the half mirror803 respectively, and are mutually in a conjugate positionalrelationship. Therefore, the two-dimensional light source 406 acorresponds to the point light source 406 shown in FIG. 6, and thecondenser lens 502 corresponds to the lens 502 shown in FIG. 5.

[0104]FIG. 9 shows a structure block diagram of a control circuit of thelight source 801 and the light receiving element 503. This controlcircuit carries out a light emission control of the light source 801 anda calculation of an output from the light receiving element 503. Asshown in FIG. 9, the control circuit is constructed of a CPU (centralprocessing unit) 901 as a center, a ROM (read-only memory) 902 and a RAM(random-access memory) 903 that store programs and data, an interfacedriver 904 that connects to a computer, an A/D (analog/digital)converter 905, an LD driver 906, and a hard disk 907 that stores variouskinds of program codes (control programs). These sections are connectedvia a bus. The CPU 901, the ROM 902 and the RAM 903 constitute amicrocomputer as a computer.

[0105] This microcomputer is connected with a program reading unit 908like a floppy disk driving unit, a CD-ROM driving unit, or an MO drivingunit which reads various kinds of program codes (control programs)stored in a recording medium 909 like a floppy disk, a hard disk, anoptical disk (a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-R/W, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM), anoptical magnetic disk (MO), or a memory card.

[0106] As a circuit that calculates the output from the light receivingelement 503, an analog processing circuit 911 is connected to the outputterminal of the light receiving element 503 as shown in the drawing. Areflection beam that has been incident to the light receiving element503 is converted into an analog image data having a voltagecorresponding to the light intensity within the light receiving element503, and is output as an analog signal. The analog processing circuit911 processes this analog signal, and the A/D (analog/digital) converter905 converts the signal into a digital signal, and delivers this signalto the CPU 901. The CPU 901 calculates the two-dimensional coordinatesof the indicating unit 404.

[0107] This control circuit may be built into the same casing unit asthat of one of the light emitting/receiving units 405, or may be builtinto a part of the display that forms the coordinate input area 403 as aseparate casing unit. It is preferable to provide an output terminal tooutput the coordinate data calculated by the computer via the interfacedriver 904.

[0108] Various kinds of program codes (control programs) that have beenstored in the hard disk 907 or various kinds of program codes (controlprograms) that have been stored in the recording medium 909 are writteninto the RAM 903 according to the power supply to the coordinate inputdevice, and these program codes (control programs) are executed.

[0109] The coordinate control section 107 of the first embodimentgenerates a control signal to make the tool bar displayed, andcalculates coordinates of one point p0 (a plurality of touch detectionpoints) based on touch candidate points. In the first embodiment, aplurality of touch detection points are calculated in the followingmethod.

[0110] First, the coordinate control section 107 obtains x coordinates(x_(max)) having a maximum value, x coordinates (x_(min)) having aminimum value, y coordinates (y_(max)) having a maximum value, and ycoordinates (y_(min)) having a minimum value, from among the point pa(x1, y1), the point pb (x2, y2), the point pc (x3, y3), and the point pd(x4, y4). Then, the coordinate control section 107 calculates thecoordinates of the plurality of touch detection points p0 (x0, y0) asfollows.

x 0=(x _(max) +x _(min))÷2  (6)

y 0=(y _(max) +y _(min))÷2  (7)

[0111] The coordinate control section 107 outputs the calculatedplurality of touch detection points p0 (x0, y0) to the screen controlsection 108 together with the control signal. When the control signalhas been input, the screen control section 108 displays a tool bar tothe plurality of touch detection points p0 (x0, y0) of the displayscreen 104. The tool bar display position is not limited to theplurality of touch detection points p0. For example, the tool bar may bedisplayed at a position p0′ at a distance not larger than apredetermined distance from the plurality of touch detection points onthe display screen 104 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0112] A general touch panel is set such that simultaneous touches aredisregarded, in order to prevent the occurrence of a malfunction when aplurality of operators touch the panel simultaneously. According to theinformation input/output apparatus of the first embodiment that usessimultaneous touches to generate a control signal, when simultaneoustouches have been detected in order to prevent the occurrence of amalfunction when a plurality of operators touch the panelsimultaneously, the information input/output apparatus calculates adistance that reflects a distance between the touched points based on aresult of this detection. When the calculated distance is at least apredetermined length, the information input/output apparatus does notgenerate a control signal. In this way, the information input/outputapparatus discriminates between the simultaneous touches and touchesthat are carried out simultaneously by a plurality of operators.

[0113] In the first embodiment, the distance Lx in the x direction andthe distance Ly in the y direction are calculated based on the x_(max),x_(min), y_(max), and y_(min). In other words, when a plurality of touchpoints have been detected, the coordinate control section 107 calculatesthe distance Lx and the distance Ly from the following equations (8) and(9). According to the first embodiment, the information input/outputapparatus has been set by a program not to generate a control signalwhen at least one of the distance Lx and the distance Ly is equal to orlarger than a predetermined length (a specific length).

Lx=x _(max) −x _(min)  (8)

Ly=y _(max) −y _(min)  (9)

[0114] The specific length that is compared with the distance Lx and thedistance Ly is set to a general distance between touch points when aperson touches the touch panel with one hand. By setting the specificlength to touch point levels of one hand, it is possible to judgewhether the touch points are the simultaneous touch points of oneoperator with one hand or not.

[0115]FIG. 10 is a diagram that explains the operation procedure of theinformation input/output apparatus. FIG. 10 shows a touch panel 200 ofthe information input/output apparatus, and a tool bar 1001 displayed ona display screen 104 of the touch panel 200. An operator simultaneouslytouches the display screen 104 with two fingers of one hand in which apen is not held, for example. The coordinate input device detects thesimultaneous touch points, and sends coordinate data to the coordinateinput section 106.

[0116] The coordinate data is sent to the screen control section 107 viathe coordinate input section 106. When the screen control section 107has judged based on the coordinate data that simultaneously touches havebeen carried out, the screen control section 107 outputs the controlsignal and the plurality of touch detection points, or a point from theplurality of touch detection points that is at not a larger distancefrom the predetermined distance (a near point), to the screen controlsection 108. The screen control section 108 makes the tool bar 1001displayed at the plurality of touch detection points or the point nearthe plurality of touch detection points, based on the control signal.

[0117] In the tool bar 1001 shown in FIG. 10, there are registeredfunctions of software that is eigen to a multi-media board as a kind ofelectronic blackboard system (hereinafter to be referred to as MBsoftware), overwrite pen, and enlarged display. When the operatortouches (one-point touch) a button 1002 of an item of a desiredfunction, a program for executing the function corresponding to thetouched button is started.

[0118] As described above, according to the first embodiment, whensimultaneous touches have been carried out, a tool bar is displayed atthe plurality of touch detection points. Based on this, the operator canmake the tool bar displayed without moving from the position where thesimultaneous touches have been carried out. Therefore, according to theinformation input/output apparatus of the first embodiment, the operatorcan make the tool bar displayed at an optional position on the displayscreen 104, and operate the tool bar without moving from the positionwhere the operator has carried out simultaneous touches.

[0119] After the tool bar has been displayed based on the simultaneoustouches, when only one of the simultaneously touched fingers is off fromthe tool bar, there is a possibility that the coordinate control section107 judges that one-point touch has been carried out on the tool bar. Inthis instance, when the touch point of the one-point touch is near toone of the buttons 1002, the screen control section 108 makes thefunction corresponding to the button near the touched point executed.

[0120] In order to prevent the processing from being executed when oneof the two simultaneous touch fingers is off, the following operation iscarried out according to the first embodiment. That is, when thecoordinate control section 107 has detected simultaneous touches, thecoordinate control section 107 does not detect the next touch on thetouch panel until when a status that the fingers are off from all thedetected touch points (detach) has been detected.

[0121] The control program of the first embodiment further includes aprogram for making it possible to edit the tool bar 1001. Therefore, theuser can edit the function registered in the tool bar to match theuser's needs. Next, the tool bar editing procedure will be explained.

[0122]FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are diagrams that explain a procedure ofediting a tool bar. These are diagrams showing a tool bar editing screenthat is used to edit a tool bar displayed by simultaneous touches. Thetool bar editing screen shown in the drawings is opened based on apredetermined operation set in advance such as a clicking of an “edit”button of the tool bar displayed by simultaneous touches.

[0123] The tool bar editing screen shown in these diagrams consists ofthree screens of a simultaneous touch function setting screen (FIG.11A), a simultaneous touch function registering screen (FIG. 11B), and afile searching screen (FIG. 11C). The simultaneous touch functionsetting screen is a screen that is first displayed on the tool barediting screen. This is a screen that displays functions currentlyregistered on the tool bar, and deletes a displayed function, or set anew function.

[0124] The tool bar editing screen shown in the drawings displays fivepointers 1101 that show item numbers and an item to be edited, five namedisplay columns 1103 that show names of functions, buttons 1102 thatshow functions, a setting key 112 that is used to determine a setting, adeletion key 113 that is used to delete a setting, and a forward key1114, a backward key 1115, an OK key 1116, and a cancel key 1117 thatare used to select an item to be edited.

[0125] When the operator has selected an item by clicking one of thepointers 1101, a black circle is displayed on this selected pointer. Theselected item can be scrolled up or down by clicking the forward key1114 or the backward key 1115. When the setting key 1112 has beenclicked and the OK key 1116 has been clicked, the simultaneous touchfunction registering screen is displayed.

[0126] The simultaneous touch function registering screen displays aname display column 1112 that displays a name of a function, a file namedisplay column 1122 that displays a file in which a program forexecuting the function is stored, a selection key 1123 that is used toselect a button that shows a function, a preview column 1124 thatdisplays a button selected by the selection key, and a reference key1125, an OK key 1126, and a cancel key 1127 that are used to make thepreview column 1124 display a button.

[0127] When the name of a function to be registered and a button havebeen determined on the simultaneous touch function registering screen,the operator clicks the OK key 1126 and makes the file searching screendisplayed. The file searching screen displays a search destinationcolumn 1131 that displays a search destination of a file in which aprogram is stored, a file type column 1134 that displays a type of afile to be searched for, a file name column 1133 that displays a filename, an open key 1135 that opens a searched file, a display column 1132that displays the contents of an opened file, and a cancel key 1136.

[0128] The operator selects a file search destination and makes thissearch destination displayed in the search destination column 1131.Then, the operator selects a file name and a type of a file to besearched for. When the search for the file has been completed, and thefile exists in the personal computer 102, this file is opened. Theoperator can confirm that the personal computer 102 has a program forexecuting the function displayed on the name display column 1121.

[0129]FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are flowcharts that explain the informationinput/output control method of being carried out by the informationinput/output apparatus explained above. The information input/outputcontrol method shown in each flowchart is executed by the personalcomputer 102 according to a program. FIG. 12 is a flowchart thatexplains a method of controlling an input of coordinates, and FIG. 13 isa flowchart that explains a method of controlling a display of the toolbar.

[0130] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the personal computer 102first decides whether coordinates (coordinate data) have been input viathe coordinate input device 106 or not (step S1201). When it has beendecided at step S1201 that coordinates have not been input (No at stepS1201), the personal computer 102 waits for the input of the nextcoordinates.

[0131] When it has been decided at step S1201 that coordinates have beeninput (Yes at step S1201), the personal computer 102 decides whether atouch has been carried out not (step S1202). This decision is made inorder to distinguish between an instance that coordinates exist withoutdetaching a finger from a touch point detected last time and an instancethat a touch has been carried out this time. When a touch has beencarried out this time as a result of the decision made (Yes at stepS1202), the personal computer 102 decides whether the input coordinatesare at one point or not (step S1203).

[0132] When it has been decided at step S1203 that the input coordinatesare at one point (Yes at step S12O3), the personal computer 102 executesthe processing corresponding to a detection of one touch point (stepS1204). The personal computer 102 notifies the coordinates of the touchpoint to the screen control section 108 (step S1205), and decides againwhether coordinate data has been input or not (step S1201).

[0133] When it has been decided at step S1203 that the input coordinatesare not at one point (No at step S1203), the personal computer 102obtains touch candidate points and decides whether two or more touchcandidate points exist or not, based on the coordinate data (stepS1206). In the first embodiment, the simultaneous touch points arelimited to two points as described above. Therefore, when two or moretouch candidate points exist (Yes at step S1206), the personal computer102 decides that the detection is invalid, and waits for the input ofthe next coordinates (step S1201).

[0134] When it has been decided at step S1206 that the touch candidatepoints are not larger than two (No at step S1206), the coordinatecontrol section 107 calculates the distance Lx and the distance Ly (stepS1208). The personal computer 102 decides whether the distance Lx andthe distance Ly calculated are larger than a specific lengthrespectively or not (step S1209). When the distance Lx and the distanceLy calculated are larger than a specific length respectively (Yes atstepS1209), there is a possibility that the plurality of touches havebeen carried out by a plurality of operators as one touch respectively.Therefore, the personal computer 102 decides that the detection isinvalid, and waits for the input of the next coordinates (step S1201).

[0135] When it has been decided at step S1202 that the input ofcoordinates is not based on a touch (No at step S1202), the personalcomputer 102 decides whether a finger has been detached from a touchpoint or not (step S1212). When it has been decided that a detachmenthas been carried out (Yes at step S1212), the personal computer 102decides whether a detected touch point is at one point or not (stepS1213) When it has been decided that a detected touch point is at onepoint (Yes at step S1213), the personal computer 102 notifies adetachment to the screen control section 108 (step S1214).

[0136] When the detected touch point is not at one point as a result ofthe decision made at step S1213 (No at step S1213), the personalcomputer 102 decides whether simultaneous touches have been detected ornot (step S1215). When simultaneous touches have been detected (Yes atstep S1215), the screen control section 108 starts the tool bar controlprogram and makes the tool bar displayed on the display screen 104 (stepS1216). When a detachment has not been detected at step S1212 (No atstep S1212), the personal computer 102 decides whether the inputcoordinates are at one point or not (step S1217).

[0137] When the coordinates are not at one point as a result of thedecision made at step S1217 (No at step 1217), the personal computer 102decides whether one touch point has been detected or not (step S1218).When one touch point has not been detected as a result of the decisionmade (No at step S1218), the personal computer 102 waits for the inputof the next coordinate data (step S1201) On the other hand, when onetouch point has been detected as a result of the decision made at stepS1218 (Yes at step S1218), it is considered that there has been anothertouch while one-point touch is being made. In this instance, thecoordinate control section 107 decides that the point that has beeninput first has been touched, and notifies this to the screen controlsection 108 (step S1219).

[0138] When it has been decided at step S1217 that coordinates of onepoint have been detected (Yes at step S1217), the personal computer 102decides whether one touch point has been detected or not (step S1220).When one touch point has been detected as a result of the decision made(Yes at step S1220), the personal computer 102 calculates thecoordinates of the touch point (step S1221). When one touch point hasnot been detected as a result of the decision made (No at step S1220),the personal computer 102 decides that another touch has been carriedout while a touch is being made or one point has been detached from astate of simultaneous touches. The personal computer 102 disregards thecoordinates, and waits for the input of the next coordinates (stepS1201).

[0139] The procedure of controlling a displayed tool bar will beexplained with reference to FIG. 13. The procedure explained withreference to FIG. 13 is carried out mainly by the screen control section108 of the personal computer 102. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, atool bar is first displayed according to the procedure of the flowchartexplained with reference to FIG. 12 (step S1301). The screen controlsection 108 decides whether the coordinates input from the coordinatecontrol section 107 have been notified or not (step S1302). When thecoordinates have not been notified as a result of the decision made (Noat step S1302), the screen control section 108 waits for thenotification of the next coordinates.

[0140] When the coordinates have been notified to the screen controlsection 108 (Yes at step S1302), the screen control section 108 decideswhether the touch made to the notified coordinates has been detached ornot (step S1303). When it has been decided that the touch made to thenotified coordinates has not been detached (No at step S1303), thescreen control section 108 decides whether the tool bar is on thenotified coordinates or not (step S1304) When the tool bar is on thenotified coordinates (Yes at step S1304) the screen control section 108displays the button on the tool bar corresponding to the coordinates byinverting the button (step S1305). The screen control section 108 waitsfor the notification of the next coordinates.

[0141] On the other hand, when the notified coordinates are not on thetool bar (No at step S1304), the screen control section 108 decideswhether the tool bar is being displayed in inversion or not (stepS1309). When the tool bar is being displayed in inversion (Yes at stepS1309), the screen control section 108 normally displays the tool barthat is being displayed in inversion (step S1310), and waits for thenotification of the next coordinates. When the tool bar is not beingdisplayed in inversion (No at step S1309), the screen control section108 waits for the notification of the next coordinates without changingthe display of the tool bar.

[0142] When it has been decided at step S1303 that the touch made to thenotified coordinates has been detached (Yes at step S1303), the screencontrol section 108 decides whether the tool bar is being displayed ininversion or not (step S1306). When it has been decided that the toolbar is being displayed in inversion (Yes at step S1306), the screencontrol section 108 starts the function of the button that is beingdisplayed in inversion (step S1307). Then, the screen control section108 deletes the displayed tool bar (step S1308), and waits for thenotification of the next coordinates. When the tool bar is not beingdisplayed in inversion (No at step S1306), the screen control section108 deletes the displayed tool bar without starting the function (stepS1308), and finishes the processing.

[0143] In the first embodiment, the information input/output controlmethod of the present invention is applied to all areas of the displayscreen 104 of the information input/output apparatus. However, it ispossible to apply the information input/output control method of thepresent invention to only a part area (an effective range) 1401 of thedisplay screen 104 as shown in FIG. 14, for example. It is possible todetermine a square external periphery of the effective range 1401 by ageneral drug operation.

[0144] When the information input/output control method of the presentinvention is applied to only the effective range 1401, the operator canmake the tool bar displayed based on simultaneous touches at only aposition near to a usual standing position. When a listener or anattendant touch a portion other than the effective range of the displayscreen 104, it is possible to prevent the simultaneous touches input bythe operator from being made ineffective based on an erroneous decisionthat the touch of the listener is a touch. The effective range 1401shown in FIG. 14 is set when the operator stands in front of the displayscreen 104. When the operator stands at the left side or the right sideof the display screen 104, it is possible to set only the left side orthe right side of the display screen 104 as the effective range.

[0145] While simultaneous touches are limited to only two simultaneoustouch points in the present embodiment, it is possible to apply thepresent invention to simultaneous touches of two to ten points. FIGS.15A, 15B and 15C are diagrams that explain detection of three touchpoints as examples of detecting two or more touch points. In FIGS. 15Ato 15C, dark color points show actually touched points, and white colorpoints show touch candidate points. In these drawings, each straightline connects detected points and a sensor that detected these points. Asensor is disposed at a point to which straight lines are concentrated.In FIGS. 15A to 15C, sensors are disposed at both ends of a long side ina similar manner to that in FIG. 3.

[0146] When two sensors have detected touch points in three directionsrespectively as shown in FIG. 15A, these sensors detect six touch pointsin addition to the actually touched three points. When one of the twosensors has detected touch points in two directions as shown in FIG.15B, the other sensor detects touch points in three directions. When oneof the two sensors has detected touch points in only one direction asshown in FIG. 15C, the other sensor also detects touch points in threedirections.

[0147] In other words, according to the touch panel of the presentembodiment, when three points have been touched simultaneously, theother sensor detects three points without exception, and it is possibleto input to the information input/output apparatus the fact that threepoints have been touched. Similarly, when four points have been touchedsimultaneously, at least one of the sensors detects touch points in fourdirections. When five points have been touched simultaneously, at leastone of the sensors detects touch points in five directions. Further,according to the present embodiment, it is also possible to detectsimultaneous points up to ten points.

[0148] Further, the information input/output apparatus of the presentinvention can allocate mutually different functions to a plurality ofpoints of two to ten points (for example, three of three points, fourpoints and five points). The functions allocated to each point may beany control that is executed by the computer like a normal end of thecomputer, and a network connection, without being limited to the displayof the tool bar. A user can set in advance the correspondence betweenthe number of touch points and the functions allocated to the number ofthe touch points.

[0149]FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C are diagrams showing a function settingscreen that is used to set a correspondence between the number of touchpoints and the functions allocated to the number of the touch points.The function setting screen consists of three screens of a multi-pointtouch function setting screen (FIG. 16A), a simultaneous-touch functionregistering screen (FIG. 16B), and a file searching screen (FIG. 16C).The multi-point touch function setting screen is a screen that is firstdisplayed on the function setting screen. The multi-point touch functionsetting screen displays eight pointers 1601, eight function name displaycolumns 1604 corresponding to these pointers, a setting key 1605, adeletion key 1606, an OK key 167, and a cancel key 1608.

[0150] On the multi-point touch function setting screen, the operatorselects the pointer 1601 corresponding to the number of touch points towhich a function is to be set, by clicking this button. The operatorclicks the OK key 1607 to open the simultaneous-touch functionregistering screen. The simultaneous-touch function registering screendisplays a name display column 1609 that displays the name of a setfunction, a file name display column 1610 that displays a file name of afile in which a program necessary to execute the function is stored, areference key 1611 that makes reference to a file, an OK key 1612, and acancel key 1613.

[0151] When the name of a function to be registered and a file name havebeen determined on the multi-point touch function registering screen,the operator clicks the OK key 1612 and makes the file searching screendisplayed. The file searching screen displays a search destinationcolumn 1614 that displays a search destination of a file in which aprogram is stored, a file type column 1617 that displays a type of afile to be searched for, a file name column 1616 that displays a filename, an open key 1618 that opens a searched file, a display column 1615that displays the contents of an opened file, and a cancel key 1619.

[0152] The operator selects a file search destination and makes thissearch destination displayed in the search destination column 1614.Then, the operator selects a file name and a type of a file to besearched for. When the search for the file has been completed, and thefile exists in the personal computer 102, this file is opened. Theoperator can confirm that the personal computer 102 has a program forexecuting the function displayed on the display column 1615. Theoperator returns to the multi-point touch function registering screen,makes the selected function displayed in the function name displaycolumn 1004 corresponding to the item selected with the pointer, andclicks the setting key 1605. Based on the above operation, it ispossible to set mutually different functions to a plurality of touchpoints respectively.

[0153] In the first embodiment, a personal computer that is ageneral-purpose computer is used for the control unit of the informationinput/output apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited tothe use of a personal computer. It is also possible to control theinformation input/output apparatus based on an exclusive structurehaving a computer that can execute a program of the informationinput/output control method of controlling the information input/outputapparatus. Further, it is also possible to control the informationinput/output apparatus by combining an exclusive structure with ageneral-purpose personal computer. For example, coordinates arecalculated based on coordinate data that is detection data of theoptical unit in the exclusive structure, and the calculated coordinatesare input to the personal computer.

[0154] (Second Embodiment)

[0155] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will beexplained. Constituent elements of the information input/outputapparatus of the second embodiment that are similar to those of theinformation input/output apparatus explained in the first embodiment areattached with like reference numerals, and their explanation will beomitted.

[0156] In the second embodiment, a program provided in the informationinput/output apparatus explained in the first embodiment furtherincludes a procedure of editing a tool bar. FIGS. 17A and 17B arediagrams that explain a procedure of editing a tool bar. FIG. 17A showsa tool bar selection screen, and FIG. 17B shows a tool bar settingscreen.

[0157] The tool bar selection screen displays five pointers 1701, fivetool bar name display columns 1702 corresponding to the pointers 1701, atool bar viewer 1703, a setting key 1704, a deletion key 1705, a forwardkey 1706, a backward 1707, an OK key 1708, and a cancel key 1709. On thetool bar selection screen, the operator selects a tool bar registrationnumber by clicking one of the pointers 1701. An optional name is inputto and displayed in one of the tool bar name display columns 1702corresponding to the tool bar of the selected number.

[0158] It is possible to edit the tool bar shown in FIG. 17A byselecting a “standard tool bar”, a “presentation tool bar”, an“electronic blackboard tool bar”, and an “electronic meeting tool bar”that are general-purpose tool bars, and a “Sato Mitsuru tool bar” thatcorresponds to a user. For example, in order to edit the “Sato Mitsuru”tool bar, the operator clicks the fifth pointer 1701, and then clicksthe OK key 1708. Based on these clicks, the tool bar setting screen isdisplayed.

[0159] The tool bar setting screen displays a plurality of registeredbuttons 1710, a registration item display column 1711 that displaysnames of functions corresponding to these buttons, a selection itemdisplay column 1714 that displays a plurality of buttons 1710 that canbe registered and names of functions corresponding to these buttons, anaddition key 1712, a deletion key 1713, an OK key 1715, and a cancel key1716.

[0160] On the tool bar setting screen, the operator selects an optionalbutton in the selection item display column 1714 by clicking thisbutton, and clicks the addition key 1712. Based on this operation, theoperator can add the selected button and a function corresponding tothis button to the registration item display column 1711. Based on thisaddition, the function corresponding to the selected button isregistered into the “Sato Mitsuru tool bar”, and the display of thebutton is added to the tool bar. The operator selects an optional buttonin the registration item display column 1711 by clicking this button,and clicks the deletion key 1713. Based on this operation, the operatorcan delete a registered button and a registered function from theregistration.

[0161] A display status of the tool bar that has been set in the aboveregistration is displayed in the tool bar viewer 1703 on the tool barselection screen. The operator confirms the set tool bar by looking atthe displayed tool bar viewer 1703, and clicks the OK key 1708, therebycompleting the setting of the “Sato Mitsuru” tool bar.

[0162] As explained above, according to the second embodiment, it iseasy to edit and customize the tool bar according to the usage of thetool bar and the user's needs. Therefore, according to the secondembodiment, it is possible to obtain the effect of facilitating theoperation of the information input/output apparatus by making it easy tohandle the displayed tool bar, in addition to the effects obtained inthe first embodiment.

[0163] (Third Embodiment)

[0164] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will beexplained. Constituent elements of the information input/outputapparatus of the third embodiment that are similar to those of theinformation input/output apparatus explained in the first and secondembodiments are attached with like reference numerals, and theirexplanation will be omitted.

[0165] In the third embodiment, the program held in the informationinput/output apparatus explained in the first embodiment furtherincludes a procedure of erasing a tool bar from the display screen whensimultaneous touches of two or more points have been carried out on thetouch panel, and updating a display status of the tool bar. Further, inthe third embodiment, the program held in the information input/outputapparatus further includes a procedure of changing over a longitudinaldirection of the displayed tool bar to a vertical or lateral directionbased on a tool bar drugging direction.

[0166] According to the information input/output apparatus of the firstembodiment, a tool bar is displayed by carrying out simultaneous toucheson the display screen, and the tool bar is erased after executing thefunction set in the tool bar (step S1308 in FIG. 13). According to theinformation input/output apparatus of the third embodiment, a tool baris displayed by carrying out simultaneous touches in a status that thetool bar is not displayed on the display screen. Further, the displayedtool bar can be erased or the display can be changed to only the displayof a control button by carrying out simultaneous touches in a statusthat the tool bar is displayed on the display screen.

[0167]FIGS. 18A to 18F are diagrams that explain a procedure of changinga tool bar display status according to the third embodiment. Thesediagrams also explain a procedure of changing over a longitudinaldirection of the tool bar to a vertical or lateral direction at the timeof returning a tool bar display status to the original display status.The tool bar shown in FIGS. 18A to 18F has a control button 1801 and afunction button 1802.

[0168] When simultaneous touches are carried out in a status that thetool bar is displayed as shown in FIG. 18A, the screen control sectionerases the function button 1802 of the tool bar, and displays only thecontrol button 1801 (buttoning). In this instance, it is possible toexecute the buttoning of the tool bar when simultaneous touches arecarried out at any points on the display screen (including the toolbar).

[0169] When the operator has drugged the buttoned tool bar, the screencontrol section 108 obtains a drugging direction based on thecoordinates that have been input from the coordinate control section107. When the control button 1801 has been drugged in a lateraldirection, the function button 1802 is displayed as a lateral tool barthat extends in a lateral direction as shown in FIGS. 18C and 18D. Whenthe control button 1801 has been drugged in a vertical direction, thefunction button 1802 is displayed as a vertical tool bar that extends ina vertical direction as shown in FIGS. 18E and 18F.

[0170]FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams that explain a detailed method ofcalculating a tool bar drugging direction. After the operator hascarried out drugging and detaching operation, the screen control section108 calculates drug starting coordinates (x1, y1) at which the druggingstarted, and drug ending coordinates (x2, y2) at which the druggingended. The screen control section 108 further calculates lengths overwhich the touched point moved (move lengths) from the drug startingcoordinates (x1, y1) to the drug ending coordinates (x2, y2) that havebeen calculated, in the x direction and the y direction respectively. Amove length in the x direction Δx is calculated from x2−x1, and a movelength in the y direction Δy is calculated from y2−y1.

[0171] A drugging direction is calculated by referring to Δy/Δx (adrugging angle) in an operation direction angle calculation diagramshown in FIG. 19A. The data expressed in the operation direction anglecalculation diagram is stored in the program held in the informationinput/output apparatus of the third embodiment. The operation directionangle calculation diagram shown in FIG. 19A is used to determine adrugging angle at every ten degrees. However, it is possible to set anoptional unit of angle to determine a drugging angle.

[0172] The operation direction angle calculated in the informationinput/output apparatus of the third embodiment is expressed by using anapproximate value of a drugging angle. For example, when the detected Δxand Δy are minus values and a drugging angle is 0.9000, the screencontrol section 108 determines 230 degrees as the operation directionangle, based on Δx−, Δy−, and Δy/Δx=0.839 in the operation directionangle calculation diagram.

[0173] A relationship between an operation direction angle and a displaystatus of the tool bar corresponding to the operation direction angle isas follows.

[0174] operation direction angle: 020 to 44° vertical tool bar

[0175] operation direction angle: 45° to 134° lateral tool bar

[0176] operation direction angle: 135° to 224° vertical tool bar

[0177] operation direction angle: 225° to 314° lateral tool bar

[0178] operation direction angle: 315° to 359° vertical tool bar

[0179]FIGS. 20A to 20D are diagrams that explain an erasing of adisplayed tool bar by carrying out simultaneous touches in a status thata tool bar is being displayed. The tool bar may be erased immediately bysimultaneous touches, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B. Alternatively,there may be displayed a message that makes the operator recognize thatthe tool bar is erased when simultaneous touches have been carried outin a status that only the control button 1801 of the tool bar is beingdisplayed, as shown in FIGS. 20C and 20D.

[0180] The operator can set in the program according to the control ofthe information input/output apparatus about whether the tool bar is tobe buttoned or erased, or a message of erasing is to be displayed or notwhen simultaneous touches have been carried out in a status that thetool bar is being displayed.

[0181]FIG. 21 is a flowchart that explains an information input/outputcontrol method according to the third embodiment. The informationinput/output control method shown in FIG. 21 is executed by the personalcomputer 102 of the information input/output apparatus according to aprogram.

[0182] Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 21, the personalcomputer 102 first decides whether coordinate data has been input viathe coordinate input section 106 or not (step S2101). When coordinatedata has not been input as a result of the decision made (No at stepS2101), the personal computer 102 waits for the input of coordinatedata.

[0183] When coordinate data has been input as a result of the decisionmade (Yes at step S2101), the personal computer 102 decides whether thecoordinate control section shows that the coordinate data issimultaneous touch data or not (step S2102). When it has been decidedthat the coordinate data is simultaneous touch data (Yes at step S2102),the personal computer 102 decides whether the tool bar has already beendisplayed or not (step S2103). When it has been decided that the toolbar has already been displayed (Yes at step S2103), the personalcomputer 102 decides whether the buttoning of the tool bar has been setor not (step S2104).

[0184] When it has been decided at step S2104 that the buttoning of thetool bar has been set (Yes at step S2104) the personal computer 102buttons the tool bar, and waits for the input of the next coordinatedata. When it has been decided that the buttoning of the tool bar hasnot been set (No at step S2104), the personal computer 102 erases thetool bar, and waits for the input of the next coordinate data.

[0185] When it has been decided that the coordinate data is notsimultaneous touch data (No at step S2102), the personal computer 102decides whether or not the coordinate data shows a drugging operation bytaking into account the coordinate data that has been input previously(step S2107). When it has been decided that the coordinate data shows adrugging operation (Yes at step S2107), the personal computer 102decides whether this drugging has been carried out on the tool bar ornot (step S2108).

[0186] When it has been decided that this drugging has been carried outon the tool bar (Yes at step S2108), the personal computer 102 decideswhether the tool bar has been buttoned or not (step S2109). When it hasbeen decided that the tool bar has been buttoned (Yes at step S2109),the personal computer 102 calculates a drugging angle and obtains anoperation direction angle in the procedure explained in FIG. 19 (stepS2110). Then, the personal computer 102 decides whether or not avertical tool bar is to be displayed based on the calculated operationdirection angle (step S2111) When it has been decided that a verticaltool bar is to be displayed (Yes at step S2111), the personal computer102 makes the vertical display tool bar displayed (step S2113) When ithas been decided that a vertical tool bar is not to be displayed (No atstep S2111), the personal computer 102 makes the lateral display toolbar displayed (step S2112).

[0187] The personal computer 102 returns to step S2101 and waits for theinput of the next coordinate data, when it has been decided that theinput coordinate data does not show a drugging operation (No at stepS2107), or when it has been decided that the drugging has not beencarried out on the tool bar (No at step S2108), or when it has beendecided that the tool bar has not been buttoned (No at step S2109).

[0188] According to the above third embodiment, it is possible to obtainthe effect of erasing or buttoning the displayed tool bar when theoperator carries out simultaneous touches on the display screen, inaddition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment. Therefore, theoperator can erase or button the tool bar without moving from a positionwhere the operator cannot reach the tool bar.

[0189] Further, according to the third embodiment, it is easy to changeover the tool bar between the vertical tool bar and the lateral tool barto match the operator's position with respect to the display screen orthe image displayed on the display screen. Therefore, according to thethird embodiment, it is possible to further facilitate the operation ofthe information input/output apparatus.

[0190] In the first to third embodiments of the present inventiondescribed above, a light-reflection type coordinate input device is usedfor the information input/output apparatus. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this structure, and it is also possible toapply the invention to other coordinate input devices. Other structuresof information input/output apparatuses to which the present inventioncan be applied will be explained next.

[0191] The information input/output apparatuses explained below includestructures similar to those of the coordinate input devices used in theabove embodiments. In the drawings to be used below, constituentelements similar to those of the information input/output apparatusesshown in FIGS. 4 to 9 (diagrams that show basic structures of theinformation input/output apparatuses used in the first to thirdembodiments) are attached with like reference numerals, and theirexplanation will be omitted.

[0192] “Retroreflection Member for a Pen”

[0193] First, an optical reflection type coordinate input device thatcan be applied to the present invention as other type of coordinateinput device will be explained, with reference to FIGS. 22 to 24. FIG.22 is a perspective view of an indicating unit 2201 that is used in theinformation input/output apparatus, and FIG. 23 is a front view of oneexample of the indicating unit 2201 within a coordinate input area 2303of a coordinate input device 2300.

[0194] As shown in FIG. 22, a retroreflection member 2202 is providednear the front end of the indicating unit 2201 that is used to indicateone point within the coordinate input area 2303 of a coordinate inputdevice 2300. This retroreflection member 2202 is formed by arranging alarge number of conical corner cubes, for example, and has acharacteristic of reflecting an incident beam to a predeterminedposition regardless of an incident angle.

[0195] For example, as shown in FIG. 23, a probe beam Ln projected froma left-side light emitting/receiving unit 405 is reflected by theretroreflection member 2202, and is received by the left-side lightemitting/receiving unit 405 as a retroreflection beam Ln′ via the sameoptical path again. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 23, it is not necessaryto provide a retroreflection member 407 in a coordinate input area 2303in the coordinate input device 2300, unlike the coordinate input devicesused in the first to third embodiments. The indicating unit 2201 has apen shape, and it is preferable that the indicating unit is made of arubber or plastic material instead of metal having gloss.

[0196] The front end portion of the screen control section 2202 of thisindicating unit 2201 is inserted into a suitable position (x, y) of thecoordinate input area 2303 of the coordinate input device 2300. When theprobe beam Ln in a fan-shaped luminous flux film projected from theleft-side light emitting/receiving unit 405 has been reflected by theretroreflection member 2202 of the indicating unit 2201, for example,this retroreflection beam Ln′ is received by a light receiving element503 of the light emitting/receiving unit 405. As explained above, whenthe light receiving element 503 has received the retroreflection beamLn′, a predetermined position Dn on the light receiving element 503corresponding to the retroreflection beam Ln′ becomes an area of stronglight intensity (a bright point).

[0197] In other words, as shown in FIG. 24, an area of strong lightintensity is generated at a position of Dn on the light receivingelement 503, and a peak appears in the light intensity distribution fromthe light receiving element 503. The position Dn at which this peakappears corresponds to the emission/incidence angle θN of the reflectedprobe beam. Therefore, it is possible to know θN by detecting this Dn.In other words, in the optical reflection type coordinate input device2300, it is also possible to calculate the coordinates of the positionof the indicating unit 2201 according to trigonometrical measurementbased on the peak that appears in the waveform of light intensity, in asimilar manner to that of the above coordinate input device.

[0198] “Optical Scanning According to a Polygon Mirror”

[0199] It is also possible to apply the present invention to acoordinate input device that carries out an optical scanning by using apolygon mirror. A structure of the coordinate input device that carriesout an optical scanning by using a polygon mirror will be explained withreference to FIGS. 25 to 29. In FIGS. 25 to 29, constituent elementssimilar to those explained above are attached with like referencenumerals, and their explanation will be omitted. The coordinate inputdevice explained below is a modification of the optical unit of thecoordinate input device used in the above embodiments.

[0200] More specifically, in the first to third embodiments of thepresent invention, a coordinate input area has been formed by projectinga fan-shaped luminous flux. On the other hand, according to thecoordinate input device that carries out an optical scanning by using apolygon mirror, the coordinate input device has a rotary scanning systemlike a polygon mirror. A coordinate input device uses a lightemitting/receiving unit 2500 that forms a coordinate input area byprojecting optical beams emitted from the light source by using therotary scanning system.

[0201]FIG. 25 is a top plan view that shows a schematic structure of thelight emitting/receiving unit 2500. As shown in FIG. 25, the lightemitting/receiving unit 2500 includes a light projecting unit 2500 aconstructed of an LD (a laser diode, or a semiconductor laser) 2501 as alight source that has a driving circuit (not shown) and emits laserbeams, a half mirror 2502, a polygon mirror 2503, and a condenser lens2504, and a light receiving element 2505. The light receiving element2505 is constructed of a PD (photo diode) that is disposed with adistance of f (where f is a focal distance of the condenser lens 2504)from the condenser lens 2504.

[0202] According to this light emitting/receiving unit 2500, the halfmirror 2502 returns a laser beam emitted from the LD 2501, and thepolygon mirror 2503 that is rotated at a predetermined angular speed ωtby a pulse motor (not shown) sequentially reflects the returned beam ina radial shape. Therefore, the light emitting/receiving unit 2500repetitively projects beams in a radial shape. In other words, acoordinate input area (not shown) is formed with beams that areprojected in radial directions from two light emitting/receiving units2500.

[0203] On the other hand, a beam that has been reflected and incident tothe light emitting/receiving unit 2500 is reflected by the polygonmirror 2503, and reaches the half mirror 2502. The reflection beam thathas reached the half mirror 2502 passes through the half mirror 2502,reaches the light receiving unit 2505, and is converted into an electricsignal.

[0204] The application of the light emitting/receiving unit 2500 shownin FIG. 25 to the coordinate input device in place of the lightemitting/receiving unit 405 will be explained next. As shown in FIG. 26,when an indicating unit 404 has been inserted into a certain position ofa coordinate input area 403 and a beam has been interfered, this beam isnot reflected by a retroreflection member 407. Therefore, this beam doesnot reach a light receiving element 503. As explained above, when theindicating unit 404 is inserted into a certain position of thecoordinate input area 403 and a beam has been interfered, a dip appearsin the shape of the light intensity distribution of the beam from thelight receiving element 503.

[0205] A method of electrical connection between sections has beenknown, and therefore, this will not be explained in detail. As shown inFIG. 27, when the indicating unit 404 has not been inserted into thecoordinate input area 403, the light intensity shows “I=I₁”. When theindicating unit 404 has been inserted into the coordinate input area 403and the retroreflection beam does not return to the light receivingelement 2505, the light intensity shows “I=I₀”. A portion where thelight intensity is “I=I₀” is a dip. In FIG. 27, a time t=t₀ shows areference position of the rotation of the polygon mirror 2503, and thisis a point of time when a rotary-scanned beam has reached apredetermined angle.

[0206] Therefore, when the light intensity has become “I=I₀” at a pointof time t₁, an emission angle θ of a beam interfered by the indicatingunit 404 that has been inserted into the coordinate input area 403 iscalculated as follows.

θ=ω(t ₁ −t ₀)=ωΔt

[0207] In other words, emission angles θ (θnL, θnR) of beams interferedby the indicating unit 404 that has been inserted into the coordinateinput area 403 are calculated in the light emitting/receiving unit 2500that are provided at left and right sides respectively. The coordinatesof the position into which the indicating unit 404 has been inserted aredetected according to the trigonometric measuring method based on theseemission angles θ (θnL, θnR).

[0208] Next, the application of the light emitting/receiving unit 2500to the coordinate input device 2300 in place of the lightemitting/receiving unit 405 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 28, whenan indicating unit 2301 has been inserted into a certain position of acoordinate input area 2303, a predetermined beam is retroreflected by aretroreflection member 407 of the indicating unit 2301. This beamreaches a light receiving element 503 (FIG. 24) of the lightemitting/receiving unit 2500. As explained above, when the indicatingunit 2301 has been inserted into a certain position of a coordinateinput area 2303 and a predetermined beam has been retroreflected, a peakappears in the shape of the light intensity distribution of the beamfrom the light receiving element.

[0209] A method of electrical connection between sections has beenknown, and therefore, this will not be explained in detail. As shown inFIG. 29, when the indicating unit 2301 has not been inserted into thecoordinate input area 2303, the light intensity shows “I=I₀”. When theindicating unit 2301 has been inserted into the coordinate input area2303 and the retroreflection beam has reached the light receivingelement 503, the light intensity shows “I=I₁”. A portion where the lightintensity is “I=I₁” is a peak. In FIG. 29, a time t=t₀ shows a referenceposition of the rotation of the polygon mirror 2503, and this is a pointof time when a rotary-scanned beam has reached a predetermined angle.

[0210] Therefore, when the light intensity has become “I=I₁” at a pointof time t₁, an emission angle θ of a beam retroreflected by theindicating unit 2301 that has been inserted into the coordinate inputarea 2303 is calculated as follows.

θ=ω(t ₁ −t ₀)=ωΔt

[0211] In other words, emission angles θ (θnL, θnR) of beamsretroreflected by the indicating unit 2301 that has been inserted intothe coordinate input area 2303 are calculated in the lightemitting/receiving unit 2500 that are provided at left and right sidesrespectively. The coordinates of the position into which the indicatingunit 2301 has been inserted are detected according to the trigonometricmeasuring method based on these emission angles θ (θnL, θnR)

[0212] “Image Pick-up System”

[0213] It is also possible to apply the present invention to an imagepick-up type coordinate input device. A structure of the image pick-uptype coordinate input device will be explained with reference to FIGS.30 and 31. In FIGS. 30 and 31, constituent elements similar to thoseexplained above are attached with like reference numerals, and theirexplanation will be omitted. The coordinate input device explained belowis a modification of the coordinate detecting system of the coordinateinput device used in the above embodiments. The invention is applied towhat is called a camera image pick-up type coordinate input device thattakes in image information within a coordinate input area with an imagepick-up camera, and detects coordinates of a position based on a part ofthe image information that has been taken in.

[0214]FIG. 30 is a front view that shows a schematic structure of acoordinate input device 3000. Image pick-up cameras 3002 as imagepick-up units are provided with a distance w between them, above bothupper ends of a coordinate input area 3001 of the coordinate inputdevice 3000. Each image pick-up camera 3002 has a light receivingelement 3003 as a CCD and an optical condenser lens 3004 provided, witha distance f between them. An image pick-up angle of each image pick-upcamera 3002 is about 90 degrees, and each image pick-up camera 3002 isdisposed to take the coordinate input area 3001 as an image pick-uprange. Each image pick-up camera 3002 is disposed at a predetermineddistance from a display plane 800 that forms a coordinate input plane,and the optical axis is parallel with the display plane 800.

[0215] Further, a background plate 3005 is provided at a peripheralportion excluding the upper portion of the coordinate input area 3001that covers a whole image pick-up area of the image pick-up cameras 3002without interfering the image pick-up angles. This background plate 3005is provided approximately in perpendicular to the display plane 800, byfacing the plane of the background plate 3005 toward the center of thecoordinate input area 3001. This background plate 3005 has a uniformblack color, for example.

[0216]FIG. 31 shows a relationship between a signal of the image pick-upcamera 3002 and an indicating unit 3006. As shown in FIG. 31, when theindicating unit 3006 has been inserted into the coordinate input area3001, the image pick-up camera 3002 picks up the image of the indicatingunit 3006. The image of the indicating unit 3006 is formed on the lightreceiving element 3003 of the image pick-up camera 3002. When thebackground plate 3005 has a black color like the coordinate input unit3000 and when a finger is used as the indicating unit 3006, theindicating unit 3006 has a higher reflectivity than that of thebackground plate 3005. Therefore, a portion of the light receivingelement 3003 corresponding to the indicating unit 3006 becomes an areaof strong light intensity (bright point).

[0217] A method of electrical connection between sections has beenknown, and therefore, this will not be explained in detail. As shown inFIG. 31, when the indicating unit 3006 has been inserted into thecoordinate input area 3001, a peak appears in the shape of the lightintensity distribution from the light receiving element 3003. A positionDn at which this peak appears corresponds to an apparent angle θn of theindicating unit 3006 from the principal point of the optical condenserlens 3004. θn can be expressed as a function of Dn as follows.

θn=arctan(Dn/f)

[0218] In other words, in the camera image pick-up type coordinate inputdevice 3000, it is also possible to calculate the coordinates of theposition of the indicating unit 3006 according to trigonometricalmeasurement based on the peak that appears in the waveform of lightintensity, in a similar manner to that of the above coordinate inputdevice. For the indicating unit 3006, it is also possible to use anexclusive pen having a self light-emitting element.

[0219] “System According to a Light Emitting/receiving String”

[0220] It is also possible to apply the present invention to acoordinate input device according to a light emitting/receiving string.A structure of the coordinate input device according to the lightemitting/receiving string will be explained with reference to FIGS. 32and 33. In FIGS. 32 and 33, constituent elements similar to thoseexplained above are attached with like reference numerals, and theirexplanation will be omitted. The coordinate input device explained belowis a modification of the coordinate input device used in the aboveembodiments. The invention is applied to what is called an LED arraytype coordinate input device that directly detects coordinates oforthogonal two axes without detecting coordinates based on trigonometricmeasurement.

[0221]FIG. 32 is a front view that shows a schematic structure of acoordinate input device 3200. As shown in FIG. 32, the coordinate inputdevice 3200 includes a light emitting element string 3202 having Xmlight emitting diodes (LED) 3201 disposed as light emitting units in ahorizontal direction at every constant distance, a light receivingelement string 3204 having Xm phototransistors 3203 disposed as lightreceiving units at every constant distance corresponding to the LEDs3201 at one to one, a light emitting element string 3205 having Yn LEDs3201 disposed in a vertical direction at every constant distance, and alight receiving element string 3206 having Yn phototransistors 3203disposed at every constant distance corresponding to the LEDs 3201 atone to one.

[0222] A space formed by being encircled by the light emitting elementstring 3202, the light receiving element string 3204, the light emittingelement string 3205, and the light receiving element string 3206 becomesa coordinate input area 3207. In other words, within the coordinateinput area 3207, m optical paths that are formed in a horizontaldirection and n optical paths that are formed in a vertical directioncan mutually cross in a matrix shape. The coordinate input area 3207 isformed in a square shape having a long side in a lateral direction, insizes corresponding to the sizes of the display plane 800. Charactersand graphics can be input by hand into this area.

[0223] When an indicating unit 3208 is inserted into a certain positionon the coordinate input area 3207, a predetermined optical path isinterfered by the indicating unit 3208. Therefore, the light receivingquantity of the phototransistors 3203 in the light receiving elementstring 3204 and the light receiving quantity of the phototransistors3203 in the light receiving element string 3206 on this interferedoptical path are lowered respectively.

[0224] A method of electrical connection between sections has beenknown, and therefore, this will not be explained in detail. As shown inFIG. 33, when the indicating unit 3208 has not been inserted into thecoordinate input area 3207, the light intensity of each phototransistors3203 shows “I=i₁”. When the indicating unit 3208 has been inserted intothe coordinate input area 3207 and the optical path has been interfered,the light intensity of the phototransistor 3203 on this interferedoptical path shows “I=i₀”. A portion where the light intensity is “I=i₀”is a dip. In FIG. 33, the lateral axis corresponds to a position of thephototransistor 3203, and this actually shows a scanning time forsequentially reading light output of the phototransistor 3203.

[0225] Then, a dip position corresponding to the position of thephototransistor 3203 in the light receiving element string 3204 and thephototransistor 3203 in the light receiving element string 3206 of whichlight receiving quantity has been lowered is detected. Based on this,the coordinates of the position indicated by the indicating unit 3208are calculated. More specifically, a time t₁ taken to detect the dipposition from a reference position t=t₀ and a waveform shown in FIG. 33are read into the memory. The dip position is detected as a memoryaddress corresponding to the dip position in the data within the memory.

[0226] The coordinate input device explained in the presentspecification is provided in the PDP as a display unit. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this structure. It is also possibleto use a CRT (cathode ray tube), an LCD (liquid crystal display), aforward projection type projector, and a backward projection typeprojector as display units. Further, the display unit is not limited tothese display units. It is also possible to provide the coordinate inputdevice in the blackboard or the whiteboard that functions as a writingboard although not particularly shown.

[0227] As explained above, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, the operation of touching two or more points within apredetermined period of time is set as the operation of generating acontrol signal eigen to the touch type input of coordinates. As aresult, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an informationinput/output apparatus that enables the operator to make a computerexecute a display or an erasing of a tool bar at an optional position ofthe panel, without affecting other programs.

[0228] Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, itis possible to prevent simultaneous inputs carried out by a plurality ofoperators from being erroneously detected as normal simultaneous inputs,of which possibility is high particularly when a large-screen panel isused. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to provide aninformation input/output apparatus having a large screen that can beoperated more easily.

[0229] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, a predetermined length is set as a distance between toucheson the panel with a finger of one hand, and therefore, it is possible tosecurely decide whether simultaneous touches have been carried out byone operator or not. Therefore, it is possible to prevent simultaneousinputs carried out by a plurality of operators from being erroneouslydetected as normal simultaneous inputs, of which possibility is highparticularly when a large-screen panel is used. As a result, there is aneffect that it is possible to provide an information input/outputapparatus having a large screen that can be operated more easily.

[0230] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, even when there is no button that calls a tool bar on thedisplayed screen, it is possible to make the tool bar displayed from anoptional position on the display screen without changing the displayedscreen. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to providean information input/output apparatus that can be operated more easily.

[0231] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to make the tool bar displayed in an area onthe display screen in which the operator can operate at present.Therefore, the operator can operate the tool bar without moving from thetool-bar displayed position. As a result, there is an effect that it ispossible to provide an information input/output apparatus having a largescreen that can be operated more easily.

[0232] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to make the tool bar displayed in an area onthe display screen in which the operator can operate more securely atpresent. Therefore, the operator can operate the tool bar without movingfrom the tool-bar displayed position. As a result, there is an effectthat it is possible to provide an information input/output apparatushaving a large screen that can be operated more easily.

[0233] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to limit the number of simultaneous touchesallocated to the control signal to a number of simultaneous touches thata man can carry out with a hand. As a result, there is an effect that itis possible to provide an information input/output apparatus that can beoperated more effectively, by avoiding unnecessary data setting.

[0234] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to prevent simultaneous touches carried outwithin a set area from being invalidated by touches carried out in otherarea. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to provide aninformation input/output apparatus having a large screen that can beoperated more easily.

[0235] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to prevent such a malfunction that when only apart of points has been detached, the remaining touch points areerroneously detected as new touch points. As a result, there is aneffect that it is possible to provide an information input/outputapparatus that can be operated more easily.

[0236] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, the operation of touching two or more points within apredetermined period of time is set as the operation of generating acontrol signal eigen to the touch type input of coordinates. As aresult, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an informationinput/output apparatus that enables the operator to make a computerexecute a display or an erasing of a tool bar at an optional position ofthe touch panel, without affecting other programs.

[0237] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to prevent simultaneous inputs carried out bya plurality of operators from being erroneously detected as normalsimultaneous inputs, of which possibility is high particularly when alarge-screen panel is used. As a result, there is an effect that it ispossible to provide an information input/output control method ofcontrolling an information input/output apparatus having a large screenthat can be operated more easily.

[0238] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, a predetermined length is set as a distance between toucheson the panel with a finger of one hand, and therefore, it is possible tosecurely decide whether simultaneous touches have been carried out byone operator or not. Therefore, it is possible to prevent simultaneousinputs carried out by a plurality of operators from being erroneouslydetected as normal simultaneous inputs, of which possibility is highparticularly when a large-screen panel is used. As a result, there is aneffect that it is possible to provide an information input/outputcontrol method of controlling an information input/output apparatushaving a large screen that can be operated more easily.

[0239] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, even when there is no button that calls a tool bar on thedisplayed screen, it is possible to make the tool bar displayed from anoptional position on the display screen without changing the displayedscreen. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to providean information input/output control method of being able to be operatedmore easily.

[0240] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to make the tool bar displayed in an area onthe display screen in which the operator can operate at present.Therefore, the operator can operate the tool bar without moving from thetool-bar displayed position. As a result, there is an effect that it ispossible to provide an information input/output control method ofcontrolling an information input/output apparatus having a large screenthat can be operated more easily.

[0241] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to make the tool bar displayed in an area onthe display screen in which the operator can operate more securely atpresent. Therefore, the operator can operate the tool bar without movingfrom the tool-bar displayed position. As a result, there is an effectthat it is possible to provide an information input/output controlmethod of controlling an information input/output apparatus having alarge screen that can be operated more easily.

[0242] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to limit the number of simultaneous touchesallocated to the control signal to a number of simultaneous touches thata man can carry out with a hand. As a result, there is an effect that itis possible to provide an information input/output control method ofbeing applied more effectively, by avoiding unnecessary data setting.

[0243] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to prevent simultaneous touches carried outwithin a set area from being invalidated by touches carried out in otherarea. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to provide aninformation input/output control method of controlling an informationinput/output apparatus having a large screen that can be operated moreeasily.

[0244] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, it is possible to prevent such a malfunction that when only apart of points has been detached, the remaining touch points areerroneously detected as new touch points. As a result, there is aneffect that it is possible to provide an information input/outputcontrol method of being operated more easily.

[0245] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, the operation of touching two or more points within apredetermined period of time is set as the operation of generating acontrol signal eigen to the touch type input of coordinates. As aresult, there is an effect that it is possible to provide acomputer-readable recording medium recorded with a program for making acomputer execute an information input/output control method for theoperator to make a computer execute a display or an erasing of a toolbar at an optional position of the touch panel, without affecting otherprograms.

[0246] Further, according to still another aspect of the presentinvention, the operation of touching two or more points within apredetermined period of time is set as the operation of generating acontrol signal eigen to the touch type input of coordinates. As aresult, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a program formaking a computer execute an information input/output control method ofenabling the operator to make a computer execute a display or an erasingof a tool bar at an optional position of the touch panel, withoutaffecting other programs.

[0247] The present document incorporates by reference the entirecontents of Japanese priority document, 2001-088921 filed in Japan onMar. 26, 2001.

[0248] Although the invention has been described with respect to aspecific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appendedclaims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodyingall modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching hereinset forth.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information input/output apparatus comprising:a touch panel; a touch point detecting unit which detects a pointtouched on the touch panel; and a signal generating unit which generatesa signal according to a point detected by the touch point detectingunit, wherein when the touch point detecting unit has detected that onepoint has been touched on the touch panel within a predetermined periodof time, the signal generating unit generates a coordinate signal thatshows coordinates of the touched point, and when the touch pointdetecting unit has detected that two or more points have been touched onthe touch panel within a predetermined period of time, the signalgenerating unit generates a control signal that shows a control set inadvance corresponding to the number of touched points.
 2. Theinformation input/output apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a distance calculating unit which calculates a distance as alength that reflects a distance between touch points based on adetection result, when the touch point detecting unit has detectedtouches of two or more points on the touch panel, wherein when adistance calculated by the distance calculating unit is equal to orlarger than a predetermined length, the signal generating unit does notgenerate the control signal.
 3. The information input/output apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the distance calculating unit calculates adifference between a maximum value and a minimum value of x coordinatesand a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of ycoordinates as distances respectively among all points that have apossibility of being touched, based on a result of the detection by thetouch point detecting unit, and the control signal generating unit doesnot generate the control signal when at least one of the differencebetween a maximum value and a minimum value of the x coordinates and thedifference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the ycoordinates is equal to or lager than a predetermined value.
 4. Theinformation input/output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whenthe control signal is output to a computer that has a display screen, atleast one of the control signals makes the computer display a tool baron the display screen.
 5. The information input/output apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising: a touch candidate pointobtaining unit which obtains a possibility that two or more points havebeen touched on the touch panel within a predetermined period of time,wherein the control signal makes the tool bar displayed in an area onthe display screen corresponding to an area encircled by straight linesthat pass through the touch candidate points.
 6. The informationinput/output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control signalmakes the tool bar displayed on a plurality of touch detection pointsthat are determined by using an average value of a maximum value and aminimum value of x coordinates among the touch candidate points as an xcoordinate and using an average value of a maximum value and a minimumvalue of y coordinates among the touch candidate points as a ycoordinate, or on points on the display screen corresponding to pointsthat are within a predetermined distance from the plurality of touchdetection points.
 7. An information input/output apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the control signal is a signal that makes a computercontrol corresponded to at least one of two touch points to ten touchpoints.
 8. An information input/output apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the signal generating unit generates the control signal onlywhen the touch point detecting unit has detected that two or more pointshave been touched within a pre-set area on the touch panel within apredetermined period of time.
 9. An information input/output apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein when the touch point detecting unit hasdetected that two or more points have been touched on the touch panelwithin a predetermined period of time, the touch point detecting unitdoes not detect touches on the touch panel until when detaches from allthe detected points have been detected.
 10. An information input/outputcontrol method comprising: a touch point detecting step of detecting apoint touched on a touch panel; and a signal generating step ofgenerating a coordinate signal that shows coordinates of a touched pointwhen it has been detected at the touch point detecting step of one pointbeing touched on the touch panel within a predetermined period of time,and of generating a control signal that shows a control set in advancecorresponding to a number of touched points when it has been detected atthe touch point detecting step of two or more points being touched onthe touch panel within a predetermined period of time.
 11. Theinformation input/output control method according to claim 10, furthercomprising: a distance calculating step of calculating a distance as alength that reflects a distance between touch points based on adetection result, when touches of two or more points on the touch panelhas been detected at the touch point detecting step, wherein when adistance calculated by the distance calculating step is equal to orlarger than a predetermined length, the signal generating step does notgenerate the control signal.
 12. The information input/output controlmethod according to claim 11, wherein the distance calculating stepcalculates a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of xcoordinates and a difference between a maximum value and a minimum valueof y coordinates as distances respectively among all points that have apossibility of being touched, based on a result of the detection at thetouch point detecting step, and the control signal generating step doesnot generate the control signal when at least one of the differencebetween a maximum value and a minimum value of the x coordinates and thedifference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the ycoordinates is equal to or lager than a predetermined value.
 13. Theinformation input/output control method according to claim 10, whereinwhen the control signal is output to a computer that has a displayscreen, at least one of the control signals makes the computer display atool bar on the display screen.
 14. The information input/output controlmethod according to claim 13, further comprising: a touch candidatepoint obtaining step of obtaining a possibility that two or more pointshave been touched on the touch panel within a predetermined period oftime, wherein the control signal makes the tool bar displayed in an areaon the display screen corresponding to an area encircled by straightlines that pass through the touch candidate points.
 15. The informationinput/output control method according to claim 13, wherein the controlsignal makes the tool bar displayed on a plurality of touch detectionpoints that are determined by using an average value of a maximum valueand a minimum value of x coordinates among the touch candidate points asan x coordinate and using an average value of a maximum value and aminimum value of y coordinates among the touch candidate points as a ycoordinate, or on points on the display screen corresponding to pointsthat are within a predetermined distance from the plurality of touchdetection points.
 16. An information input/output control methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the control signal is a signal that makesa computer control corresponded to at least one of two touch points toten touch points.
 17. An information input/output control methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the signal generating step generates thecontrol signal only when the touch point detecting step has detectedthat two or more points have been touched within a pre-set area on thetouch panel within a predetermined period of time.
 18. An informationinput/output control method according to claim 10, wherein when thetouch point detecting step has detected that two or more points havebeen touched on the touch panel within a predetermined period of time,the touch point detecting step does not detect touches on the touchpanel until when detaches from all the detected points have beendetected.
 19. A computer-readable recording medium recorded with aprogram for making a computer execute an information input/outputcontrol method, wherein the computer-readable recording medium isrecorded with a program for making a computer execute an informationinput/output control method comprising: a touch point detecting step ofdetecting a point touched on a predetermined area set in advance; and asignal generating step of generating a coordinate signal that showscoordinates of a touched point when it has been detected at the touchpoint detecting step that one point has been touched on thepredetermined area within a predetermined period of time, and ofgenerating a control signal showing a control according to a computerset in advance corresponding to a number of touched points when it hasbeen detected at the touch point detecting step that two or more pointshave been touched on the predetermined area within a predeterminedperiod of time.
 20. A program for making a computer execute aninformation input/output control method comprising: a touch pointdetecting step of detecting a point touched on a touch panel; and asignal generating step of generating a coordinate signal that showscoordinates of a touched point when it has been detected at the touchpoint detecting step that one point has been touched on the touch panelwithin a predetermined period of time, and of generating a controlsignal showing a control according to a computer set in advancecorresponding to a number of touched points when it has been detected atthe touch point detecting step that two or more points have been touchedon the touch panel within a predetermined period of time.